FAMILY CELEBRATIONS
He “joyfully celebrated with his whole family his newfound faith in God.” –Acts 16:34
The converted jailer immediately shared his faith with his family and joyfully celebrated God’s new life with them. Here are some ways for a family to celebrate their faith in God:
anniversaries: celebrating the day each family member received Sacraments, such as Baptism (Acts 16:34), First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, etc.,
patron saints: celebrating the feast day of the patron saint of each family member (or the saint they were named for),
monthly Confession parties: the family goes to Confession together and celebrates afterward (e.g. Lk 15:23, 32), and
monthly tithing parties: the family gathers to pray, tithe, and celebrate. Children without money are allotted money to tithe such as they and their parents discern.
Families have many more ways to celebrate what God has done for them. No family is so perfect that they can’t make “still greater progress” (1 Thes 4:1) in holiness, unity, faith, and joy. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you (Jn 16:8) about the unity of your family and pour out the love of God in the hearts of each member of your family (Rm 5:5). “You families…give to the Lord glory and praise” (Ps 96:7).
PRAYER: Father, may each member of my family experience the joy of knowing, loving, and serving You. May my family bear great fruit for You.
PROMISE: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and all your household.” –Acts 16:31
PRAISE: Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, imperial Roman guards, were ordered to kill a young Christian girl. Instead, her courage led them to Jesus, and all three were eventually martyred.
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who know the great courage of the glorious Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus in confessing you, may experience their loving intercession for us in your presence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
May your Church rejoice, O God, confident in the intercession of the Martyr Saint Pancras, and by his glorious prayers may she persevere in devotion to you and stand ever firm. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
